Highland Park residents press council over years‑long sound nuisance from Albion; berm versus property line dispute

Residents on Sheehan Court told the Highland Park City Council on May 12 they have endured continuous sound nuisance from the Albion facility for about five years and objected to a proposed sound wall design that, they said, would encroach on their private property.

Erwin Bernstein and members of the Mordini family described community fundraising and other activities before turning to the sound issue. Peter and Jody Mordini gave an extended update about meetings with Albion representatives and the city, saying Albion initially said it would contribute about $500,000 for a sound wall but now appears unwilling to place the structure on Albion’s berm. The Mordinis asked that the city require installation on Albion property rather than allow support pillars or footings to cross onto neighbors’ lots.

“Imagine looking out your bedroom window and seeing a 15‑foot wall 7 feet away from your window,” Peter Mordini told the council. He and other residents said the proposed placement would block light and airflow, reduce property values and violate municipal restrictions on structures located at property lines. They urged the city to require the wall on Albion’s berm or to engage Kinetic Sound Engineering to redesign louvers or sound panels.

Why this matters: The complaint raises recurring quality‑of‑life and property‑rights issues and underscores limits on where mitigation can be sited without private‑property encroachment. Residents said the berm is a practicable location and that utilities located under private yards are no impediment to installing the wall on Albion’s side.

City response and next steps: City staff and the city attorney previously met with residents and Albion representatives, and the residents said they have not received a final answer. At the meeting Mayor Rotering thanked the residents and acknowledged that staff and the city attorney were continuing work to resolve the matter. One resident said Kinetic Sound Engineering had offered to meet on‑site to suggest alternative mitigation approaches; the residents said Albion had indicated it was not interested in revisiting Kinetic’s new ideas.

Details residents gave the council: - The Mordinis said they had been told Albion might only be willing to build a 12‑ to 15‑foot wall, and that Albion’s consultants did not survey or measure conditions on the residents’ side when modeling sound impacts. - Residents said wind‑driven “down‑sound” over the taller neighboring building contributes to a sustained reverberating noise at their homes and that a wall limited to the first row of louvers would not mitigate that effect. - Residents noted the berm was constructed without obstructions and argued that utilities and sprinkler lines in the berm would not prevent placement of a larger structure there.

Action recorded: No formal council motion was made at the May 12 meeting on this item. Council members and the mayor thanked the residents for the update and said staff and the city attorney were continuing to pursue resolution with Albion.